Camouflage pencil



Nov. 16, 1943. c. SQALTHOUSE CAMOUFLAGE PENCIL Filed Dec. 9, 1942tbtimul'll'l '"I'IIIIII'WA W n 5 u m 0/ 5 I s m T m C mtorncgti PatentedNov. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT cri ic-EL CAMOUFLAGE PENCIL CharlesScott Althouse, Bern Township, Berks CDun y, Pa.

Application 'Deccmbflr 9, 4% Seri l N9. 468,3

2 Claims. (Cl. 206%56) My invention relates generally to a cosmeticpencil having a protective manipulating holder casing, and moreparticularly to a pencil of this nature having two cosmetic pencilsnormally protectively retained within the casing, with provision forprojecting either one beyond the casing for convenient use.

My main object is to provide two color pencils suitable for camouflageuse by military forces to render the attacking soldiers less visible insurprise attacks, or wherever camouflage disguise may be founddesirable. And for this purpose, the color pencils must be safelyretained in a water tight protective casing so as to withstand withoutharm rough tumbling about in the soldiers pack and soaking in water, andat the same time either pencil must be readily projectable for use andwith one hand manipulation if required.

With the above main object in view, and with other objects that willappear later herein, my invention comprises a dual camouflage pencil andprotective manipulating holder casing therefor as more fully describedhereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its novelfeatures specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side View indicating a preferred embodiment of my pencilprotective casing with closure caps tightly sealing the open ends of thecasing.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is another cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the end closurecaps removed, and one color pencil projected beyond its casing end bypressure exerted on the end of the other color pencil.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but indicating modifiedconstruction.

The casing 5, is indicated as a tube with screw caps 6, 6 tightlysealing its open ends. It may be formed of metal, plastic, or othersuitable material, and the end caps may be hinged, or have a tighttelescopic fit, or other like means, the intention being to tightly sealthe tube ends by means that may be removed or swung out of the way touncover said normally closed ends.

In the preferred construction, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, the interiorof the tube is of equal diameter throughout its length. A pencil carri ris shown as xially osition d Within sa d tube midway of its length, 'andcomprises a spacing rod l0 having camouflage pencil carrying heads H andI2, one at each end of said rod, and a mid-length ring eye |3. Thiscarrier is intended to be movable longitudinally along said casing axisin either direction but to be retracted and normally held in midwayposition within said tube. As shown in Fig. 2, coil springs I4 and I5each have one end engaging ring eye l3, and their opposite ends aresecured to the casing 5, as by riveted end connection to the latter asshown.

The color pencils 2!] and 2| are shown as secured to the respectivecarrier heads II and I2 at the opposite ends of the spacing rod l0.These pencils are shown as secured by impaling prongs 22 extending intothem from the respective heads H and I2, but may be otherwise held. Thecolor pencils 20 and 2| will be of suitable material, and may be ofdifferent colors, as required for the specific camouflage needs, and aredesirably of a consistency to spread easily and withstand wetting bysweating or rain, but removable by soap and water.

When the pencils 2!) and 2| are in their normal retracted positionwithin the casing 5, and the end caps B, 6, secured to the ends of thecasing to make a Water-tight sealing, they are fully protected againstrough tumbling about in a soldiers kit and will remain dry and ready foruse.

When the need arises, the end caps 6, 6, are quickly removable, or swungout of the way, and either pencil may then be projected beyond itscasing end by simply pressing a finger, or other pressure means, againstthe other pencil. In Fig. 5, color pencil 20 is shown projected by endpressure against color pencil 2|, a finger for this purpose beingindicated in dotted lines. The springs I4 and I5 connecting the ring eyel3 of spacing rod l0 to the casing wall, readily permits thislongitudinal movement to project pencil 20, or reversely pencil 2|, buton removal of the finger or like pressure, the springs will act toretract the projected pencil by centering the pencil carrier within thelength of the casing 5.

In Fig. 6 I have indicated a modified construction, the casing 5' havinga hinged end closure cap 6 at one end, and a telescoping cap 6 at theother end tethered by a chain 60. The casing is shown with a midwaypartition 25, and the spacing rod is shown in the form of a tube Illhaving socket heads H and l2 to receive and carry the pencils 20 and 2|.And the carrier and its pencils is normally centered by balanced coilsprings 26 and 21, which permits longitudinal movement of tube In as inthe previously described construction to project either pencil bypressure on the other pencil.

Other modifications than those shown in Fig. 6 may be employed, whichare Within the spirit of my invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A camouflage pencil comprising a tubular protective and handlingcasing having oppositely disposed openings adapted to receive closurecaps, a spacing bar reversely movable along the longitudinal axis ofsaid casing, tension springs connecting a mid-length portion of said barto a mid-length portion of the wall of said casing and acting to retractsaid bar to a mid-length position within the latter, and a head at eachend of said spacing bar for holding a camouflage pencil with bothpencils normally held within said casing by said centrally retractedspacing bar, and either one projectable beyond its casing end by endpressure on the other to longitudinally move said spacing bar.

2. A camouflage pencil comprising a protective handling casing havingoppositely disposed openings adapted to receive sealing caps, a pencilspacing bar reversely movable longitudinally in said casing, holdingmeans at each end of said bar for a camouflage pencil, and spring meansintermediately engaging with said bar and tensioned to normally positionsaid bar centrally Within said casing, said bar being longitudinallymoved from said tensioned central position by end pressure on onecamouflage pencil so as to project the other camouflage pencil outwardlyfrom said casing.

CHARLES SCOTT ALTHOUSE.

